In the rapidly heating up 2010 Senatorial campaign between right-wing ex-congressman, ex-radio host J. D. Hayworth and the not as right-wing John McCain, a Senator who is only a maverick when it benefits him politically. Hayworth was voted out of office in the fifth district in 2006 in part because of his ties to Jack Abramoff. It would also make a great attack ad that McCain could use against him, except for one problem...McCain was a part of the Keating 5.
(Yes, Hayworth looks awful, I know.)
More below the fold.
From The Hill:
"If John McCain really wants to make this a campaign about ties to lobbyists we will very forcefully respond to his outrageous conduct and Bahamian vacations with convicted banker Charlie Keating," said Jason Rose, a spokesman for Hayworth.
Speaking of which, a January poll has McCain's approval rating stands at 40%. This is his lowest rating since the Keating Five scandal broke. What is the Keating 5 scandal? Well, here's some background:
In the 1980s, federal auditors were investigating Keating's savings and loan bank when the Arizona developer asked McCain and a number of other senators to intervene. Keating and McCain were close and had taken several trips together. McCain, then in his first Senate term, attended two meetings with federal banking regulators to discuss the investigation. The Senate Ethics Committee later found him guilty of exercising "pour [sic] judgment," but nothing more.
This is definitely an example of a form of mutual assured destruction. Each side has a metaphorical "bomb" to drop on the opponent's camp, but they can't do it for fear of swift retribution. By the end of it all, McCain will likely win, but this could turn into his biggest re-election struggle yet. Hayworth has already been endorsed by the monstrous, right-wing Sheriff Joe Arapio has already endorsed Hayworth and Beck appears to as well. This is turning into a very interesting race. All we need now is a strong Democratic front-runner to steal the show.
UPDATE: There is one credible Democratic challenger, Rodney Glassman, an accomplished Tuscon politician who is running an exploratory committee to run for Senate. He is not taking any donations above $20 because he wants to keep this as grassroots as possible.